PSG rights ship against Sochaux

Paris Saint-Germain bounced back from its first loss this season by outclassing last-place Sochaux 5-0 Saturday to provisionally extend its lead to four points in the French league.

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PSG captain Thiago Silva volleyed home a cross from Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the 14th minute before Argentine winger Ezequiel Lavezzi tapped in a short pass from Thiago Motta in the 47th.

Uruguay forward Edinson Cavani beat Sochaux goalkeeper Pierrick Cros in the 62nd for a 3-0 lead. Ibrahimovic sealed the win with a powerful free kick in the 86th and a close-range effort in stoppage time.

Marseille coach Elie Baup was dismissed Saturday after the 2010 champion lost 1-0 to Nantes the day before. Baup was replaced by sporting director Jose Anigo who will be in charge until the winter break.

PSG had a 36-game unbeaten run snapped by a 2-0 loss to Evian on Wednesday. The defending champion showed more desire on Saturday while making increased efforts to track back.

”We wanted to react after the loss at Evian,” PSG goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu told Canal Plus television. ”We realized we made some mistakes . We did not give 100 percent physically and mentally on Wednesday.”

PSG capitalized on Ibrahimovic’s fifth assist this season to open the scoring and could have reached the interval with a bigger lead. But Sochaux centerback Carlao blocked close-range efforts from Blaise Matuidi in the fourth and Motta in the 21st.

Cros then frustrated PSG by stopping low strikes from Ibrahimovic in the 26th and Cavani in the 44th.

PSG pressed high up the pitch to double the lead shortly after the break before Cavani trapped a ball over the top from Ibrahimovic to notch his 11th league goal with a side-footed effort.

A short drop in intensity allowed the visitors to create a couple of chances. But the low drive from Sochaux substitute Rafael Dias in the 68th lacked power to trouble Sirigu, who then parried Emmanuel Mayuka’s volley from a tight angle in the 70th.

Sochaux centerback Mathieu Peybernes stopped a play from Ibrahimovic by handling the ball. But the Sweden striker unleashed the subsequent free kick into the top corner from 20 yards to make it 4-0.

Ibrahimovic then consolidated his spot as the top scorer in the league by converting a low cross from Cavani for his 13th goal.